The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
